$70 million medical center approved for Jupiter’s Abacoa

Tuesday

Dec 16, 2014 at 12:01 AMDec 16, 2014 at 4:59 PM

A $70 million medical research center developers say will combine research, education and patient care was approved Monday by the town council.

"This is what the whole Scripps Research Institute concept was all about when it was first visioned. All these minds will come together," said Paul Walczak, a developer of the project. The developers also operate the NuVista Living at Wellington Green in Wellington. That center has 120 beds for short-term care and a 52-bed assisted living area.

Ground is expected to be broken early next year in Abacoa for the 235,000-square-foot Institute for Healthy Living that will include a 129-bed nursing home, 70-bed assisted-living facility and 30-bed center for people with brain disorders. The plan by Palm Beach Gardens-based NuVista Living calls for creating a "clinical research organization" that would include a medical partnership with the Scripps Research Institute and Jupiter Medical Center.

"Combining the resources of Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter Medical Center and FAU creates incredible potential for scientific discovery and education for future scientists," said Roy Smith, the Scripps department chairman for metabolism and aging.

The vote was 3-0. Mayor Karen Golonka and Councilman Jim Kuretski were absent.

The four-building institute would create about 190 full-time medical jobs within the first two years after opening. The plan calls for Jupiter Medical Center to transfer 60 beds to the institute.

At full operation, about 450 more research and development jobs will be at the institute planned for 9 vacant acres on the east side of Central Boulevard just north of Donald Ross Road. Developers hope to complete construction in about 15 months, Walczak said.

The plan was proposed four years ago, drawing opposition from Jupiter Medical Center. The new plan is a joint venture involving NuVista, Scripps and Jupiter Medical Center.

The new plan will make the center a cog in the research wheel that is moving toward allowing baby boomers to maintain healthier lifestyles as they get older, said Walczak.

The project would be the second by the owners of NuVista Living at Wellington Green. They are Elizabeth Fago, Bill Meyer, E. Llwyd Ecclestone and The Tendrich Group of West Palm Beach.

"This is a great joint venture that will help the entire community," said Betsy Heartfield, JMC vice president of post-acute services.

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